KooGle Theatre Company is a Burlington based professional theatre company founded in 2007 by Equity artists and husband and wife team, Leslie and Christopher Gray. It was a few life changing events that resulted in the birth of this company ~ Leslie and Christopher getting married, the loss of Leslie's sister Karen, and the birth of their first child. It was these things that gave them true perspective into what was important in their lives. 

KooGle has just completed their fourth successful season and are very excited about their future! 

KooGle Theatre Company will continue to grow by producing published works (musicals/plays), collaborating with professional directors and workshopping new material while employing a range of talent from up and coming to professional and always utilizing as much local talent as possible.  

"We would like to thank Burlington and all of our wonderful patrons ~ for embracing us and welcoming us into this vibrant arts community!"

Leslie was born and raised in Burlington, Ontario and has been singing and dancing through life since she was a little girl. She used to belt out songs from Annie and A Chorus Line to her mom’s records and put on shows for her family and neighbours. She enrolled in dance classes when she was 10 and auditioned for her first musical (The King and I) at age 13 with the encouragement of her Grandpa Walker (George) who played the bass fiddle in the orchestra at Hamilton Theatre Inc. She landed the show as a dancer and singer (directed by the late/great Pat Dawson) and from then on she was hooked. She has trained locally with The Paul Gordon Dancers, Steps the Dance Company, Theatre Aquarius Summer School, Sheridan College Musical Theatre Programme and studied voice, dance and acting in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Toronto and New York. Some of her favourite roles to perform have been Sister Amnesia in Nunsense, Erma in Anything Goes, Cinderella in Into the Woods, Kathy Selden in Singin' in the Rain, Val in A Chorus Line, Lily St. Regis in Annie and Vera Lynn in Dame Vera: A Tribute to Vera Lynn. After performing in over 40 musicals from amateur to professional and choreographing for schools, corporations, Hamilton Theatre Inc. and Theatre Aquarius, she turned her talents into forming her own company with her husband, and KooGle Theatre Company was ‘conceived’. She also managed to ‘conceive’ two beautiful boys ages 4 and 1 (Love you Cameron and Jacob). She couldn’t do any of this without the love and support of her family, especially her mom and dad and her wonderful husband whom she loves performing on stage with. 

Christopher grew up in Chatham, Ontario and began singing at a very young age in his church choir (along with his sister Amanda). He started studying voice at the age of 13 and competed in the Kiwanis Music Festival for many years before receiving his Grade 8 Level Singing from the RCM before he was 20. He was given the wonderful opportunity of being a part of his high school’s (UCC) strong theatre program for five years. Christopher worked with true mentors who were dedicated to providing aspiring performers a professional platform from which to learn. "Many thanks to Elisa Smyth and Michael Milner (among many others) for their amazing guidance and passion for the arts!" Christopher then had the pleasure of studying Acting at Ryerson Theatre School where he received his Honours BFA and worked with the likes of John Neville, Peter Wylde, Brian Way, David Walden, Perry Schneiderman, Cynthia Ashperger and Iris MacGregor-Bannerman to name a few. Selected theatre credits include: The Merchant of Venice, Inherit the Wind, The Sound of Music (Stratford Shakespeare Festival), Toad in Toad! and Templeton in Charlotte’s Web (Theatre Aquarius), Carnes in Oklahoma! (Sunshine Festival), Greg in A Chorus Line (Capital Theatre Windsor), Miles in Tigers (Grand Theatre London One-Act Festival – *Best Actor), and Jim Casy in The Grapes of Wrath (Ryerson Theatre, dir. Kelly Robinson). Film/TV: The West Wing (NBC) and Duckblind (2004 CineSiege Nominee). Christopher, along with his wife Leslie, chose to take a step back from the business full time so that they could get married and start a family. That decision was very important to them. They are now blessed to have two beautiful boys! In 2007, KooGle Theatre Company was born. KooGle has given them the platform to create and be a part of the process again by producing self-generated and published works. They are very excited about where KooGle can go! "Thank you to my family for their love and unwavering support, especially to my beautiful wife and sons for the inspiration and joy they bring to my life - Love you!!"